This video features the final lecture of the ecological design course, NR 288, taught by Dr. John H Todd on Thursday 12/9/2010. Todd is Research Professor in the School of Natural Resources, a Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Vermont, and a Fellow at the Gund Institute For Ecological Economics. In the past, this ecological design course is taught in the fall and the ecological design studio during the spring semester. Both courses explore the theory and practice of employing ecological knowledge to address urgent human and environmental problems.

Dr. John H. Todd, President of Ocean Arks International, and pioneer of ecological engineering is the brilliant mind behind "Living Machines". Living Machines are ecosystems technologies which treat wastes and purify water with plants, animals and bacteria, rather than chemicals. Such "Machines" have earned three U.S. patents, have won numerous awards, and have been built or are being constructed in many cities, towns, villages and schools in a number of countries. John Todd and his wife Nancy Todd have published several books on ecological design and authored more than 200 technical and popular articles and essays on biology and planetary stewardship.

This video is a production of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, an affiliate of the Rubenstein School for Environment & Natural Resources at the University of Vermont.

The Gund Institute is a transdisciplinary research, teaching, and service organization focused on developing integrative solutions to society's most pressing problems. We conduct integrative research and service-learning projects on a broad range of topics, offer hands-on learning through our problem-solving workshops and courses, develop online teaching resources and international collaborations through metacourses, and support professional and graduate education through our Graduate Certificates in Ecological Economics and Ecological Design. Learn more about the Gund community of students, scholars and practitioners by exploring our news, publications, and video archives, then contact us to help us build a sustainable, widely shared quality of life.

For more information about Dr. John Todd, his work, or the Gund Institute, visit: toddecological.com/​, uvm.edu/​giee/​?Page=about/​John_Todd.html&SM=about/​about_menu.html, and uvm.edu/​giee/